Indiana Pacers forward David West grabs a rebound away from Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Garnett during the first half, Saturday, December 28, 2013, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Written by

Candace Buckner
candace.buckner@indystar.com

Things have worked so well for the Indiana Pacers that before facing the Brooklyn Nets, reserve center Ian Mahinmi joked with a reporter that "you guys," meaning the media, had come to expect too much perfection.

After three straight victories by 17 or more points, the Pacers have reduced the gathered assembly to nitpicking on Danny Granger's slow start or the team's late-game execution in blowout wins. Because let's face it - the confident and stable Pacers may be winners, but they lack the telenovela draw of the dysfunctional Nets. Sometimes, after a while, even rooting for clean-cut ...